Editorial: tenth edition of Latam Plagas
Editorial presentation of edition 10, with the axes, context and technical perspective that guide this issue of Latam Plagas.
Once again, reality challenges our individual and group adaptation capacities. SARS-CoV-2, a tiny enemy, but with a giant impact on humanity, has put us in check. None of us had experienced the concept of a pandemic as clearly as we have in the last six months. Social isolation, preventive care, the prohibition of many activities, the rapid and efficient spread of the virus, and the collapse of the different health systems in the world, have set a new starting point. Without a doubt, and without trying to force contrasts, our life can be considered “before and after covid.” Personal and organizational routines have changed consistently and many paradigms have been disintegrated. Like any “catastrophe”, this situation will clearly leave us with positive and negative changes, but without a doubt it will have disseminated many lessons. Our industry as a whole, comprehensively and globally speaking, has been greatly favored. Virtuality and the possibility of connecting with any place in the world in seconds allow us to provide or access training, conferences, congresses or any event that homogenizes and raises the standards of professionalism and excellence in the services we provide. At the same time, society has begun to understand more precisely our role as health assistants. Clearly the demand for sanitation and disinfection seeks to “eliminate” the virus from different areas, although as information regarding this microorganism evolves, we are understanding the need to become professional in these aspects. For many years, service companies and their staff have
“trained” and prepared to handle various pest organisms, but without viewing the offer of disinfection as a business option. Nowadays, forced by reality, many companies have grown in business volume or have maintained their business, thanks to the commercialization of sanitation or disinfection services. On the contrary, and unfortunately, those companies that have not been able to replace the lost services (schools, gastronomic establishments, cinemas, theaters, party halls, hotels, etc.) have been extremely harmed and in some cases have had to close. At LATAMPLAGAS we have assumed the commitment to sustain technical-scientific dissemination in relation to the professional management of urban, industrial pests and disease vectors, trying from now on to bring you closer to what is related to the comprehensive sanitary management of environments (MISA). In this sense, specialization requires knowing products, equipment and strategies, in addition to the biological aspects related to the SARS-coV-2 virus and many other pathogens.
Ing. Guillermo J. Tarelli